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In the ever-evolving world of transportation, one topic is gaining traction among industry professionals, motor carriers, policymakers and independent contractors alike: portable benefits.

Legal and insurance experts Greg Feary (Scopelitis Law Firm) and Chris Gulker (TrueNorth Companies), along with hosts P. Sean Garney and Steve Keppler, explored how portable benefits could impact and reshape the future of trucking. 

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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In the world of transportation, we talk a lot about safety – hours of service, compliance, vehicle maintenance and more. But what if we’re missing a critical piece of the puzzle? What if the real root cause of many safety issues isn’t just what happens on the road, but what’s happening in the lives of the drivers behind the wheel?

In this episode of the TTT Podcast, hosts P. Sean Garney and Steve Keppler sat down with Dr. Mark Manera (Founder & CEO of Offshift), Tim O’Neil (Senior Workforce Well-Being Advisor at TrueNorth Companies) and Bert Mayo (VP Transportation Risk Solutions at TrueNorth Companies) to explore how these often-neglected areas are shaping the future of fleet risk management. 

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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The trucking industry is bracing for a significant shift in enforcement. On June 25, 2025, a new enforcement directive will take effect, placing drivers out-of-service if they fail to meet English language proficiency (ELP) standards under FMCSA regulation 391.11(b)(2). This change, prompted by a presidential executive order, has sparked intense discussion across the industry – and for good reason.

In this episode of the TTT podcast, industry experts Adrienne Gildea (CVSA), Chris Eckhart (Scopelitis Law Firm), Bert Mayo (TrueNorth), and hosts Sean Garney and Steve Keppler unpack the details and implications of this directive. 

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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About the Podcast: 

When a crash happens, chaos follows – but your response doesn’t have to. In this episode, legal expert Steve Stanaszak (Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary) and safety pro John Biblis (TrueNorth) join the team to break down what every carrier and driver can do in the critical moments after a highway accident.

From preserving evidence and managing emotions to avoiding costly legal missteps, this conversation is packed with real-world advice that could save your company time, money and reputation. 

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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About the Podcast: 

Lawsuit abuse and the rise of nuclear verdicts are a crisis in the trucking industry driving up costs, shutting down businesses and hamstringing the industry. We've seen jury awards and settlements in hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars, often far exceeding the actual damages. These outsized verdicts are driving skyrocketing insurance premiums, forcing small and mid-sized carriers out of business, and creating an environment where frivolous lawsuits are a constant threat. However, the industry is going on the offensive.

Joined by Pamela Bracher and Peter Berg, we discuss nuclear verdicts, lawsuit abuse, what’s being done to deal with these topics and how the industry can help.

Disclaimer – nine minutes into the episode, Peter experienced technical difficulties and was not recorded by the podcast. The flow of the conversation might be a little different, but we did our best to still provide entertaining and informative conversation. Please forgive us and enjoy! 

Topics Covered:
    • The history of nuclear verdicts
    • The reptile theory and the psychology behind it
    • What are some common situations that can lead to these types of cases
    • The media’s role in the trucking industry
    • The public’s perception of lawsuits on fleets

Featured Industry Specialists:
    • Host: P. Sean Garney, co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Co-Host: Steve Keppler, co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Guest: Pamela Bracher, deputy general counsel for the American Trucking Associations
    • Guest: Peter Berg, principal and practice leader at TrueNorth Companies

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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 About the Podcast: 

The autonomous trucking landscape has been a topic of interest and debate for many years within the trucking industry. As we begin 2025, many are anticipating making significant strides in advancing autonomous vehicles (AVs). The recent announcement of a new partnership between Waabi and Volvo, as well as that of Torc Robotics’ planned new autonomous hub in Texas and expansion of offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are proof that 2025 could be a pivotal year for autonomous trucks. 

Joined by Anita Kim from Torc and Sam Loesche from Waabi, we discuss the autonomous trucking outlook for 2025, how the government is approaching the industry, and the challenges and opportunities with AVs.   

Key topics covered:
   • Where does autonomous trucking technology stand today?
   • What are the benefits of AVs, and are they safe?
   • How autonomous trucks can complement, not compete with, the trucking workforce.
   • How insurers are reacting to AVs.
   • What legislators and the government are doing in this space and how they can help advance the technology.

Featured industry specialists:
   • Host: P. Sean Garney, co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
   • Co-host: Steve Keppler, do-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
   • Guest: Anita Kim, director of government affairs and policy at Torc Robotics
   • Guest: Sam Loesche, head of policy and public affairs at Waabi
   • Guest: John Biblis, senior safety & loss control specialist at TrueNorth Companies

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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The National Transportation Safety Board is a critical piece in helping to advance transportation safety through their comprehensive crash investigations. With over 10,000 investigations done over the years, their experience and expertise offer valuable insights for improving truck and bus safety for drivers, motor carriers, and government agencies.

Joined by Bert Mayo and Shawn Currie, we discuss the National Transportation Safety Board and what they do and what they have found from the boots on the ground perspective.

Topics Covered:
    • How NTSB works and how they choose what crashes to investigate
    • What do they look for in crashes and how they launch for crash investigations 
    • How has technology helped in crash investigations and analysis
    • What trends are they seeing in their investigations of large truck crashes
    • What are some tips for motor carriers to help in crash prevention and avoidance
    • What does the future state of safety look like in regard to large truck and bus crashes
    • And much more

Featured Industry Specialists:
    • Host: P. Sean Garney, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Co-Host: Steve Keppler, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Guest: Bert Mayo Vice President of Risk Solutions at TrueNorth Companies
    • Guest: Shawn Currie, Senior Highway Accident Investigator at National Transportation Safety Board

 

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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Tis the season to be thankful and give praise to all things good in the trucking industry. In this podcast, that’s exactly what we are doing. 

Joined by Bert Mayo and John Biblis, we discuss what we’re thankful for and all the positives that came from the trucking industry in 2024!

Topics Covered:
     • All time low crash rates
     • Economy improvements
     • Government regulations
     • FMCSA
     • Truck parking
     • And much more

Featured Industry Specialists:
     • Host: P. Sean Garney, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
     • Co-Host: Steve Keppler, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
     • Guest: Bert Mayo Vice President of Risk Solutions at TrueNorth Companies
     • Guest: John Biblis, Senior Safety & Loss Control Specialist at TrueNorth Companies

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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About the Podcast: 

In this podcast, we take a different approach of just talking shop! Compliance vs safety, government regulations, crash rates, safety and all things about trucking and safety. Joining this episode are guests Jack Van Steenburg and Chad Graber.

Topics Covered:
    • Insights into how government and enforcement work
    • Compliance versus Safety
    • Government regulations and priorities
    • Major hurdles in reducing crash rates
    • Why do crashes occur
    • And much more

Featured Industry Specialists:
    • Host: P. Sean Garney, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Co-Host: Steve Keppler, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Guest: Jack Van Steenburg, Principal, CMV Safety Experts, LLC
    • Guest: Chad Graber, Broker II at TrueNorth Companies

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

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ATRI has been publishing its Operational Costs in Trucking report since 2008 that brings in operational data on all things trucking and freight. This annual report has been influential in helping companies in benchmarking their performance to get ahead of and understand where they are and where they need to go. In this podcast episode, we explore the findings from the latest report and the impacts on the trucking industry. Joining this episode are guests Alex Leslie of ATRI and Andrew Mills of TrueNorth Companies.

Topics Covered:
    • What is the history of the report and why is it important
    • What does the report tell us about driver pay
    • What do the results indicate about the state of the industry
    • How does this information influence insurance rates
    • And much more

Featured Industry Specialists:
    • Host: P. Sean Garney, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Co-Host: Steve Keppler, Co-Director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
    • Guest: Alex Leslie, Senior Research Associate at ATRI
    • Guest: Andrew Mills, Vice President of Operations at TrueNorth Companies

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2024©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.

TN Truck Thought is a monthly podcast featuring some of the brightest minds in trucking. Our carefully selected panel of industry experts get to the bottom of the most challenging and controversial issues facing the industry today. In each episode, we take a deep dive into all things trucking, including: what's new in government and research, as well as practical and theoretical discussions on issues like the rise of nuclear verdicts, how to overcome this crazy supply chain, or the driver shortage. The TN Truck Thought Podcast is hosted by Sean Garney and Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.

We'd love to hear from you! Give us your feedback and future topic suggestions. Email: [email protected]

2025©TrueNorth Companies, L.C.